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With Mass Effect 2BioWare takes the videogame sequel and shows us how it's done. The combat's better, the space exploration's more satisfying, the writing's as clever as any the studio has put forth, and the artistic vision behind this sci-fi galaxy -- down to the Hollywood-talent voice work -- is top-notch. But it's the way that Mass Effect 2 expands upon the narrative established in the first game that marks a true breakthrough for interactive storytelling.

Play the Original First

If you want to get the most out of ME2, I can't overstate how important it is to play through the original so you can import your character. Sequels traditionally build on the groundwork established by the first game, add some new characters, maybe drop a few references to past exploits here and there. ME2, on the other hand, creates real continuity, taking your virtuous exploits or reprehensible misdeeds from the first game and translating them into tangible consequences in the sequel's world: Dead party members remain dead, you'll see the results of your political maneuvering, and characters from your past will pop up around every corner, rarely in predictable fashion. While you can easily play and enjoy Mass Effect 2 without any knowledge of the original, you'd miss out on how BioWare has masterfully woven the memorable characters and story threads from the first game into this rich new tapestry.

Now with Real Shooting

The original Mass Effect walked the line between RPG and shooter, succeeding far more at the former than the latter. Perhaps it was the natural evolution of the series, or perhaps an effort to reach a broader audience, but ME2 has become a much more focused shooter experience. The cover system has been improved, the reloading mechanic is a welcome change from the annoying overheating system from the first game, and locational damage makes you actually care about aiming and accuracy. You also have to use different weapons and abilities against shields, biotic barriers, and armor, adding a tactical element to keep combat varied.

Combat isn't the only thing that's been refined, as the game's approach to character development has also been expanded considerably. Each party member has fewer skills than in the original, but the talents have more impact and the characters are more unique. The no-brainer choices from the first game are now a core part of your character -- all characters can use the Unity ability to revive party members, and you can only use the weapons in which you're trained. Your class abilities also provide the Renegade/Paragon bonuses that Charm and Intimidate conferred in the original. Each character type in ME2 is more of an individual, particularly the hybrids, and favorite biotic and tech abilities from the original like Warp, AI Hacking, and Singularity all make a return, accompanied by powerful new abilities that complement a variety of play styles.

The A(lien) Team

Your hero's sizeable team in ME2 is a who's who of interesting characters from throughout the Mass Effect universe; soldiers and killers, psychos and scientists. No matter your personality type you're sure to find some favorites, including an appealing romantic option for your own version of Shepard. Mass Effect 2's story focuses on assembling this group, earning their loyalty, and then sending them head-on against a seemingly insurmountable challenge. You're bankrolled in this endeavor by Cerberus, a shadow entity unveiled in the first game, and where Shepard's loyalties lie is up to you.